OET Reading Sub-test Practice

TIME LIMIT 15 MINUTES

• Complete the following summary using the information in the four texts provided.

• You do not need to read each test from beginning to end to complete the task.
You should scan the texts to find the information you need.

• Gaps may require 1, 2 or 3 words.

• You should write your answers next to the appropriate number in the right hand
column.

• Please use correct spelling in your response.

TEXT 1

BACKGROUND Several studies have shown that replacing saturated fat with
unsaturated fat in the diet can help lower blood pressure in hypertensive individuals.
Research has shown that some unsaturated fats (oils) are more effective in lowering
blood pressure than others. Fish oils for example, have been found quite effective in
lowering both blood pressure and triglyceride levels. Now researchers at the University
of Naples investigate whether olive oil is also effective in lowering blood pressure.

PARTICIPANTS The one-year study involved 23 men and women with mild
hypertension (systolic pressure less than 165 mm Hg and diastolic pressure less than 104
mm Hg at the start of the study).

METHOD The participants were randomized into two groups. One group was told to add
olive oil to their food after cooking while the other group was told to add sunflower oil (a
rich source of linoleic acid). Men added 40 grams/day (approx. four spoonfuls) and
women added 30 grams/day (approx. three spoonfuls) to arrive at a diet containing 8368
kJ and 6276 kJ respectively. The overall composition of the diet was 17 per cent protein,
57 per cent carbohydrates, and 26 per cent fat.

MEASUREMENT / OUTCOMES The participants' blood pressures were measured

every two months. After six months the average systolic blood pressure in the olive oil
group had dropped to 127 mm Hg from the 134 mm Hg recorded at the start and the
diastolic pressure had dropped from 90 mm Hg to 84 mm Hg. There were no significant
changes in the sunflower oil group.

The level of antihypertensive medication was adjusted during the experiment by a

separate group of doctors who did not know which diet their patients were following. The
ones in the olive oil group were able to reduce their medication use by an average 48 per
cent and eight of them were able to discontinue their medications completely. None of
the ones in the sunflower oil group were able to discontinue their medications and the
average reduction in medication usage was only 4 per cent.

RESULTS / DISCUSSION The researchers conclude that a reduction in saturated fat

intake combined with the increased use of extra-virgin olive oil lowers the need for
antihypertensive medication. They speculate that the high content of polyphenols in olive
oil may be a major factor in its beneficial effects.
TEXT 2

Figure 1 Death rates for cardiovascular disease, by Indigenous status and age group,
males, Queensland, WA, SA and the NT, 2002-2005

Figure 2 Death rates for cardiovascular disease, by Indigenous status and age group,
females, Queensland, WA, SA and the NT, 2002-2005

Note: Rates are per 100 000 population

TEXT 3

Case Study 1-
Patricia, is a 49-year-old woman with a history of type 2 diabetes, obesity, hypertension,
and migraine headaches. Hypertension was diagnosed 5 years ago when blood pressure
(BP) measured in the office was noted to be consistently elevated in the range of 160/90
mmHg on three occasions. Patricia was initially treated with Lisinopril, starting at 10 mg
daily and increasing to 20 mg daily, yet her BP control has fluctuated. Physical
examination reveals an obese woman with a BP of 154/86 mmHg and a pulse of 78 bpm.

Case Study 2
Jacqui, a 47-year-old female patient underwent a 24-day treatment program for
hypertension due to kidney damage. The patient's problem began at age 17 when she was
admitted to the hospital for obstruction of the right kidney. She underwent surgery to
relieve the obstruction; however, the kidney had been damaged. She was told this damage
would be permanent and, as a result, she could expect to have elevated blood pressures
for the rest of her life. For the following thirty years the patient had widely varying blood
pressures, with most pressures being significantly elevated. (Blood pressure is considered
high when the upper number, the systolic pressure, is 140 or higher, or when the lower
number, the diastolic pressure, is 90 or higher.) The 24-day in-residence program
including the use of the newly introduced Vedic Sound Therapy which the patient felt
played a central role in her subsequent improvement. The patient was then placed on a
home program including dietary recommendations and specific herbal preparations.
Within a few days of leaving The center, the patient's blood pressure dropped
significantly and became normal.

TEXT 4

• In Australia, people in lower socio-economic groups are at greater risk of

cardiovascular disease and related mortality.
• Of those with a cardiovascular disease, 40% also reported having high blood
cholesterol and 39% also had arthritis.
• 36.9% of men and 33.4% of women aged 45-54 had hypertension in the US in
1999-2000
• In 2003-04, cardiovascular disease accounted for 7% or 448,859 hospitalisations
in Australia.
• Major causes of hypertension include obesity or overweight, alcohol
consumption, physical inactivity, dietary salt intake, low intake of fruit and
vegetables and a high intake of saturated fat.
Summary Answers
1.
A recent study at the University of Naples has
evaluated the effect of eliminating (1) …… from 2.
the diets of people with 2) ……. The study was
conducted over a period of (3) …… with (4) ….. 3.
participants all of whom had 5) …... at the
beginning of the study. One group was asked to 4.
add (6) ….. to their meals after cooking, while the
other was asked to add (7) ……. . The diet
5.
consisted of mostly (8) ……
6.
Results revealed that by the end of the study, the
7.
average systolic blood pressure had dropped by
(9) …. mm Hg in the first group, and the diastolic
8.
blood pressure had dropped to (10) …. Mm Hg.
Eight in the first group were able to discontinue 9.
their medication compared to (11) …. In the
second group. 10.

Hypertension is a major predictor of 11.

cardiovascular disease. Statistics reveal that
death rates in Australia from cardiovascular 12.
disease (CVD) among males is (12) ……. than
for females. The group with the highest rates of 13.
CVD overall are (13) ……. followed by (14) ……
A total of (15) …… people were hospitalised due
14.
to CVD in 2003-4.
15.
 16.
The case of Patricia demonstrates that blood
pressure can still (16) ……… even when treated 17.
with drugs such as (17) ……… . The case of
Jacqui shows that an intensive residential 18.
programme that included (18) ………. therapy,
followed by (19) …… and (20) ……. preparations 19.
at home, lead to elevated blood pressure
returning to (21) ……. 20.

Blood pressure is considered to be high if the 21.

systolic pressure is (22) …… and the diastolic
pressure is (23) ……… 22.

Risk factors for hypertension include (24) …… or 23.

being overweight, high consumption of (25) ……
and ………, and low intake of (26) ….. . 24.

25.

26.
OET Reading: Hypertension (CVD)
Answers
1. Saturated fats
2. high blood pressure
/ hypertension
3. one year
4. 23
5. mild hypertension
6. olive oil
7. sunflower oil
8. carbohydrates
9. 7
10. 84
11. None
12. higher
13. Indigenous males
14. Indigenous
females
15. 447,859
16. fluctuate / be
elevated
17. Lisinopil
18. Vedic Sound
19. -dietary
20. herbal / herb
21. normal
22. 140 or higher
23. 90 or higher
24. obesity
25. alcohol, salt.
(saturated) fat (any
2)
26. fruit(s), vegetables

List of References
http://www.yourhealthbase.com/hypertension.html
http://www.theraj.com/hypertension/casestudy.php
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4821.0.55.001
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/h/hypertension/stats.htm
http://www.mbf.com.au/Wellness/Articles/hypertension.html
http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/chronic-conditions/cvd/reviews/our-review
http://clinical.diabetesjournals.org/content/22/3/137.full
Ferrara, L. Aldo, et al. Olive oil and reduced need for antihypertensive medications. Archives of
Internal Medicine, Vol. 160, March 27, 2000, pp. 837-42